Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all... I just bought a new 24 X 18 X 24 Exo Terra glass enclosure... I've got a few idea floating through my crazy little head of mine... but I wanted to see what you all had done to them or if you had input...

I'm looking at placing either a GTP or an Emerald in there... Yes a baby/ sub adult, and yes I know that's a big space for a new one... I wanted the extra room to put a lot of foliage into it... I plan on planting it... everything but the perches I'd like to be growing in some shape or manor... I'm not in a rush to get the animal, I've got my eye on one, but for now, I want to get the cage established, getting the ecosystem to thrive... then throw the animal in there...

Now... has any one ran into issues with planting viv's for Arboreal snakes in the past?? < I've posted this same question in the GTP forum as well >

You can certainly create a nice living vivarium to house either of those species. A good starting point would be reading Phillipe De Vosjoli's book 'The Art of Keeping' snakes. He goes over some stuff to do with natural substrates, plants, etc. Many techniques you'd employ would be similar to what the Dart Frog community does in setting up their vivaria. Incidentally, I've seen zoos exhibiting Emerald Tree Boas with Dendrobates azureus - makes for a neat exhibit. I think both snakes will easily outgrow your cage though. It's an okay size for a sub-adult be all but the very smallest adult males will outgrow it and it would even be small for adult males. If you want to see more examples of setting up a heavily planted vivarium go check out www.dendroboard.com
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Matt Campbell

"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in." John Muir

Thanks for the input Matt, this is going to be by no means the permanent house for whatever I decide to put in there... but would give me a starting point to owning one... And besides, if it does out grow it... just give me an excuse to build another cage for it... Thanks again...

I'm not sure, but I may be posting a bit too late on this one.
In any case, I have the exact same vivarium set-up for my male Mangrove snake (Boiga dendrophila dendrophila). It's a smaller animal, and the enclosure is not meant as a permanent solution, but the snake thrives in the naturalistic settings. Originally, I had one small Ficus benjamina, three small bromeliads, and one small Draceana planted in the cage, and the three bromeliads did not survive the stress placed on them by the snake. However, the cage actually looks much nicer without them and the other two plants have held up beautifully. In addition to the plants, I added several cork branches for climbing, and a central hollow log in the middle of the cage which serves as the snake's daytime retreat.
If you have any questions, just ask. I'd be glad to help if I could.
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Roy Blodgett
Green Man Herpetoculture
royreptile@yahoo.com

1.1 Drymarchon corais
4.4 Pseustes sulphureus
1.1 Pseustes poecilonotus
1.1 Lampropeltis getula californiae (desert phase)
1.1 Boiga dendrophila dendrophila
2.3 Pogona vitticeps (snow and red/gold)
1.0 Iguana iguana

“All men lie enveloped in whale-lines. All are born with halters round their necks; but it is only when caught in the swift, sudden turn of death, that mortals realize the silent, subtle, ever-present perils of life.”- Herman Melville

I have a couple Exo's in that size - love 'em. Mine house a group of Bothriechis lateralis.

I modified, grouted and sealed the styro backgrounds. Modification involved great-stuffing some pots and perches (including embedded stubs of branches at various heights) onto the backgrounds. Looks and works awesome (my bromeliads are thriving). I sealed with spray-on clear expoxy, like you see in motorcycle shops. (I let it dry for about a month, and rinsed it a lot after the first week drying).

Substrate is chunky coir. I set these cages up in a hurry (story of my life) so didn't drill the tanks or even make a false bottom or other drainage layer - just threw in the substrate, and stuck (de-potted) plants into it. Usually I like at least a false bottom. However I have not missed it here (except I can't do a water feature...bummer).

Survival of plants has been a cold-hearted Darwinian experiment. Winners thus far include Ficus elastica, Pepperomia sp., Dracaena sp., Philodendron sp., Neoregelia sp., Tradescantia fluminensis, and Aglaonema modestum.

Losers have included Dieffenbachia sp., Calathea sp., and a couple of very herbaceous specimens of unknown species.

The Exos are hooded - I have 2 CFs per hood (there's space for 3 but that makes it too hot for this montane species).

I hand-mist daily. I keep a variety of arboreal vipers and only the lateralis seem perpetually happy to get a drink. Others (e.g. A. chloroechis) seem like they're fine with 2x a week or so. This variable schedule will affect what plants live or die. E.g. Schefflera are OK with the chlorechis - 2x/week - but get (terminal) fungal diseases when misted daily. (Actually Atheris seem to not do well with a lot of misting too...but that's another topic, sorry).

I've never kept arboreal boids so can't comment on what plants will work with whatever misting schedule they require. The Exos are good for snake lungs, because airflow is good, particularly with the drafting introduced by an overhead heat/light source. I think the crack between the doors, and the vent below them, is key here. I don't know arboreal boids at all, but in vipers the susceptibility to lung-crud (lethal!) varies A LOT, in about this order in my experience (least-most): "Trimeresurus", Bothriechis, Atheris, Tropidolaemus.

I'd be curious what people have to say about boids' susceptibility.

cheers,
Jimi

would love to see some pictures Jimi!

Well, my school of thought on this one was that whatever ground based plant/s I do end up using, won't be terribly effected by the particular species of snake I plan on putting in there.

The more I look into it, I'm leaning more towards creating a living background, much like the one that is described on the black forest web site... the web sites a great resource...

I think this will work well, as I have tossed the idea of throwing an emerald and a couple dart frogs for color, and eventually turning it into full time dart tank...